Joe Root Nears Century as England Build Solid First Day Total at Lord’s

On a sunny July 10, 2025, Lord’s Cricket Ground in London was buzzing with excitement as England faced India in the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. With the series tied at 1-1, both teams were eager to take the lead. England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat first, a shift from their usual bowling-first approach. India’s bowlers, led by Nitish Kumar Reddy’s double strike, kept things tight, but England’s patient batting ensured they held a slight edge.

England’s Cautious Approach

England’s openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, walked out to face India’s pace attack, led by the returning Jasprit Bumrah. The pitch, expected to offer pace and bounce, was slower than anticipated, forcing England to play cautiously. Crawley and Duckett started steadily, putting on 43 runs in 13.3 overs. Crawley scored 18 off 43 balls with four boundaries, while Duckett made 23 off 40 balls with three fours. Their partnership looked promising, reaching 39/0 by the first drinks break, with 2 extras added. However, India’s young pacer Nitish Kumar Reddy changed the game in his debut over at Lord’s.

Reddy struck twice in the 14th over. First, he got Duckett caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who took a diving catch. Duckett’s 23 came at a strike rate of 57.50, but his departure at 43/1 was a blow. Three balls later, Reddy struck again, dismissing Crawley for 18, caught by Pant, leaving England at 44/2 in 13.6 overs. These quick wickets gave India the upper hand, with Reddy’s figures at 2/5 in that over, his best in Test cricket. The Indian pacers, including Bumrah (0/13 in 8 overs) and Mohammed Siraj (0/29 in 4 overs), bowled with discipline, exploiting the slight movement on offer.

With England in trouble at 44/2, Joe Root and Ollie Pope stepped up to rebuild. Root, known for his stellar record at Lord’s with an average over 54, played with his trademark composure, while Pope battled hard on a pitch lacking pace. The duo put on a crucial 109-run partnership for the third wicket over 35.3 overs, guiding England to lunch at 83/2 in 25 overs. Pope was on 12 off 34 balls, and Root was on 24 off 34, with 9 extras in the total. Their stand was patient, as India’s bowlers, particularly Akash Deep (0/75 in 17 overs) and Siraj (0/33 in 14 overs), kept probing with fuller lengths.

Post-lunch, Root and Pope continued their steady approach, reaching 100 runs in 35.4 overs. Root brought up his 67th Test fifty off 102 balls, including seven fours, with a flick off Reddy to deep fine leg for a boundary. Pope, meanwhile, played a gritty knock, scoring 44 off 104 balls with four boundaries at a strike rate of 42.30. The pair added 50 runs in 116 balls for the third wicket, with 7 extras, and pushed England to 150 in 47.3 overs. India’s bowlers struggled to break through, with Washington Sundar (0/21 in 10 overs) and Ravindra Jadeja (0/12 in 3.3 overs before tea) unable to make an impact. The session was a grind, with England’s run rate hovering around 3.02, a far cry from their usual “Bazball” aggression.

The third session saw India claw back with two quick wickets. Right after tea, Jadeja struck with his first ball, dismissing Pope for 44. Pope, attempting to cut a ball with a hint of turn, edged it to substitute wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who took a sharp catch standing up to the stumps. Jurel was on the field after Rishabh Pant suffered a chipped fingernail injury, forcing him off temporarily. Pope’s departure at 153/3 in 49.1 overs ended the key partnership. Five overs later, Bumrah joined the party, bowling Harry Brook for 11 off 20 balls. Bumrah’s delivery, angled in from over the stumps, went through Brook’s defence to hit the top of off, leaving England at 172/4 in 54.5 overs. Brook’s brief knock included two fours at a strike rate of 55.00.

India’s bowlers sensed an opportunity, with Bumrah (1/35 in 18 overs) and Reddy (2/46 in 14 overs) leading the charge. Shubman Gill, India’s captain, rotated his pacers smartly, using short, sharp spells to keep them fresh. Akash Deep, despite going wicketless, bowled with intent, conceding 75 runs in 17 overs. Siraj was economical, giving away 33 runs in 14 overs with five maidens. Jadeja (1/26 in 10 overs) and Sundar (0/21 in 10 overs) bowled 20 overs of spin, but the pitch offered little turn. England reached 200 in 63.6 overs, with Root and Stokes digging in.

Joe Root, unbeaten on 99 off 191 balls, was the backbone of England’s innings, playing a classic Test knock with nine boundaries at a strike rate of 51.83. He narrowly missed his 37th Test century, stranded on 99 when Stokes declined a second run off the last ball of the day, bowled by Akash Deep. Stokes, on 39 off 102 balls with three fours, played a cautious role, surviving a close lbw call against Jadeja in the 67th over, which India reviewed but lost as it was the umpire’s call. Their unbroken 79-run partnership for the fifth wicket over 28.1 overs, at a run rate of 2.80, ensured England ended the day strongly at 251/4.

Root faced testing moments, including a blow to the ribs from a climbing Siraj delivery and a late pull-out when a Spider-Cam distracted him. Stokes, meanwhile, showed flashes of aggression, cutting Deep for two boundaries in the 58th over. The duo added 50 runs in 100 balls, with 2 extras, and pushed England to 250 in 82.2 overs. The day ended with 17 extras (4 byes, 11 leg byes, 2 no-balls) in England’s total, reflecting India’s disciplined but occasionally wayward bowling.

India’s bowlers worked hard on a slow pitch that didn’t offer the expected pace and bounce. Bumrah, returning after being rested for the second Test, bowled 18 overs, taking 1/35 with three maidens. His dismissal of Brook was a highlight, showcasing his ability to strike with precision. Reddy was the standout, with 2/46 in 14 overs, his double strike in the 14th over setting the tone. Akash Deep, despite no wickets, bowled with heart, while Siraj’s five maidens showed his control.

Jadeja’s wicket of Pope was crucial, and Sundar’s tight spell kept the pressure on. Gill’s captaincy was proactive, with frequent bowling changes and a new ball taken late in the day, though it yielded no further wickets. Rishabh Pant’s injury was a concern, but Jurel’s sharp keeping ensured no drop in intensity behind the stumps.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day

The moment which can be counted as the standout of the day came in Nitish Kumar Reddy’s first over during the Test match at Lord’s on July 10, 2025. Replacing Jasprit Bumrah, the young pacer made an instant impact for India. His first ball to Ben Duckett was a beauty, slanting across and seaming away to beat the outside edge. On his second ball, Reddy overpitched, and Duckett flicked it for four through midwicket. But Reddy struck gold on his third ball, getting Duckett (23 off 40) out, strangled down leg as Pant took a diving catch.

Reddy wasn’t done. After Ollie Pope survived a dropped catch and scored a single, Reddy bowled a peach to Zak Crawley (18 off 43). The length ball swung late, straightened, and caught Crawley’s edge, with Pant grabbing another catch. Reddy’s over (1-0-5-2) turned the game, leaving England at 44/2 after 14 overs, with a run rate of 3.14. His fiery spell, marked by swing and accuracy, broke England’s opening stand and handed India a crucial advantage.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

The winner of the TCNI’s Hero of the Day is Joe Root for his patient, masterful batting on July 10, 2025, during the 3rd Test at Lord’s. With England at 251/4 after 83 overs, Root’s unbeaten 99 off 191 balls was a lesson in grit and focus. Facing a disciplined Indian attack led by Jasprit Bumrah (1/35) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2/46), Root played with calm precision, hitting nine fours at a strike rate of 51.83. His innings held England together after early losses, including Ben Duckett (23) and Zak Crawley (18).

Root’s 100-run partnership with Ollie Pope (44) steadied the ship, and his 50-run stand with Ben Stokes (39*) showed his ability to adapt. While England’s run rate was a modest 3.02, Root’s patience shone through, carefully navigating Bumrah’s pace and Ravindra Jadeja’s spin (1/26). He survived a tense DRS call while anchoring England through tough spells. Root’s disciplined approach, picking gaps and avoiding rash shots, frustrated India’s bowlers, setting a solid platform for day two.